Should juror’s doubts get Goodman a new trial?

Five weeks ago, Palm Beach County Circuit Judge Jeffrey Colbath polled all six jurors after they convicted John Goodman of DUI manslaughter with failing to render aid in the death of Scott Wilson. Each juror said guilty was his or her verdict.

John Goodman, left, appears in court Monday with his defense team. A juror said he now has doubts about the evidence that led to Goodman's conviction. (Palm Beach Post photo)

Then on Monday, juror Michael St. John told Judge Colbath he has doubts about Goodman’s guilt. Huh?

Mr. St. John’s comment was one more turn in a case that has featured every defense money can buy. Attorney Roy Black leveraged a comment by an alternate juror into the questioning of all jurors as to whether Goodman’s wealth had biased them against him. Judge Colbath has been exceptionally generous in letting Goodman’s team raise issues, but that should now stop.

We wonder about Mr. St. John’s comments because they come so late and with no warning. Judges poll jurors for this very reason. One prominent Palm Beach County defense attorney could recall just one case of his when a juror essentially recanted after being polled. The case was declared a mistrial. In the last five weeks, Mr. St. John has heard the Goodman team in full cry. The prosecution has been silent. Mr. St. John did not elaborate on the reasons for his comment, and we take that as further reason to be skeptical.

Our bet is that Judge Colbath will not consider this reason to grant a new trial, and that neither will the 4th District Court of Appeal. Testy deliberations are normal in big cases, and Goodman’s has drawn lots of publicity. A successful appeal must show that an error would have changed the outcome of the trial. Presented with the evidence, including three hours of testimony from Goodman, every juror voted to convict. Once the jurors were dismissed, the conditions change. Mr. St. John spoke after weeks of defense publicity. That isn’t the same.

We don’t believe that this juror’s doubt will get John Goodman a new trial. But what do you think? Leave a comment or click on the link below to take our poll.